Electrode release for arc lamps



Feb. 13,1940. N T v Re. 21,346

ELECTRODE RELEASE FOR ARC LAMPS Original Filed Nov. 9, 1937 1,, 'RoaERTJBRAND-r, 44 40 INVENIOR.

I ATTORNEY.

Reissued Feb. 13, 940 Y Re, 21,345

Robert J. Brandt, Hollywood, Calif.

Original No. 2,122,195, dated June 28, 1938, Serial i No. 173,674, November 9, 1937. Application for reissue October 21, 1938, Serial No. 236,325

13 Claims. (Cl. 176-419) My invention relates to a simple means for wheels -I2'from engagement with the surface of releasing an electrode held in the propelling the carbon, in order that the carbon may be mechanism of an arc lamp, and relates in parmoved in axial direction. It will be understood, ticular to a device which may be readily applied of course, that release of the drive wheels I2 will fr to existing arc lamps whereby the toothed wheels also permit rotation of the carbon II! on its lon- 6 which drive the electrode may be quickly regitudinal axis;

moved from engagement with the carbon so that Where the invention is applied to existing car the carbon may bereadily taken from the lamp hon drives of arc lamps, the wheels "I2 form and replaced by a new one. part of the existing mechanism. These Wheels In arc lamps of the type to which the subject I2 each have two rows of teeth I3 separated by a matter of this invention is adapted for use, central annular groove I4, and in ordinary praceither one or both electrodes are continuously tice'these drive wheels I2 are supported between advanced and rotated during the operation of outstanding walls I5 by shafts or pins I6 which the lamp. An example of this type of arc lamp project laterally through vertical slots I! formed is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,060,347, in the walls I5; The walls I5 project from an granted November 10, 1936, to Elmer C. Richannular plate i8 formed at the end of a sleeve ardson. I9 forming part of the existing type of carbon The principal objection to' lamps of this type drive mechanism. The wheels I2 rest in vertical has been the extreme difiiculty in removing spent channels 2| which are formed between the side go'electrodes and replacing them with new ones. walls I5, these channels extending through the L0 This difficulty has been due to the fact that no plate I8, as indicated at 22. The channels 2I,

means was available to relieve the high pressure in which. the wheels I2 operate, likewise comexerted on the electrode by the electrode admunicate with the bore through which the carvancing wheels or gears. hon Iii passes so that the inner corners of the 5 It is an object of the present invention to proeeth It may en h s f of the carbon vide a simple and expedient means for releas- 0 tightly p and drive the Sa e a on ing the electrode to permit ready replacement. and advancement of the electrode are accom- A further object of the present invention is to pl n t e following manner. I The shaft 84 provide a control for actuating the electrode i r a by ny suitable urce of power. The

releasing mechanism which is sufficiently remote r 55 5 keyed the shaft 54 and rotates W from the high temperature of the spark gap to it. Gear 65 meshes with gear teeth 68 of the eliminate danger to the o er tor, A collar 52' which is securely fastened to the tube I3 Further objects and advantages of the invenby means of the thread 21. A disc-like r 8 tion will be brought out in the following part ber 68 is mounted on the tube I9 but is adapted to of the specification. rotate independently thereof. This disc-like gear Referring to the drawing which is for illus- B8 is provided on one face with spiral or scroll trative purposes only; gear teeth 69 which mesh with the gear teeth Fig. l is a sectional view, partly sectioned on 3 on t e Wheels which Operate as planetary a vertical axially extending plane, and showing gears. It will thus be seen that rotation of 0 the invention applied to an existing type of carthe shaft #3 1 will cause rotation of the tube 19. 40

bon driving mechanism. which in turn will cause rotation of the integral Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly sectioned, annular plate i8 which carries the wheels I2. indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1. When the disc-like gear 63 is held stationary and Fig.3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the assembly Which is mounted on the annular "the line 33 of Fig. 1. plate I8 is. rotated about the axis of the electrode Fig, 4 is a perspective View, partly se tioned, Ill, the spiral gear teeth on the member 68 will showing the operating tube which forms a part cause the .wheels I2 to rotate about their own of the disclosed embodiment of the invention. to thus advance ,the electrode. Due to the As shown in the drawing, a carbon in is engagement of the electrode It by the wheels I2,

moved, during the operation of the arclamp, in the electrode is rotated about its own axis. It 50 the forward direction indicated by arrow II. will be readily understood that the member 68 The carbon It may be at the same time rotated, may he held stationary or rotated in either dibut this rotation need be given no further conrection to thereby vary the rate of advance of sideration here for the reason that the present the electrode H1. The wheels I2 are forced with invention concerns means for releasing drive considerable pressure toward the carbon l0 byes means of springs of the type indicated at 23, these springs extending from the ends of one shaft or pin IE to the ends of the other shaft or pin 16.

In accordance withmy present invention an operating tube 24, Fig. 4, is made with a bore 25 slightly larger in diameter than the carbon l0, this tube 24 serving as the electrode carrier. On the forward end of the tube 24 a rectangular head 26 is formed, and the rearward end of the tube 24 is provided with threads 21. In the forward portion of the tube, so as to extend into the head 26, a pair of diametrally positioned openings or slots 28 are formed through which the inner portions of the wheels I2 may pass when the operating tube 24 is installed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The head 25 of the operating tube 24 is of greater width than height and has upper and lower faces 29 and side faces 30. In each of the side faces 30 spaced holes 3| are drilled to receive in drive fit relation pivot pins which will be hereinafter' set forth. The sleeve H, as best shown in Fig. 1, is bored out so that the internal opening 32 thereof will slidably receive the body 33 of the operating tube 24. A milling cutter having a width substantially. equal to the height of the head"25.is then passed laterally across the front face of'the circular plate I8 so as to mill. lower faces 35, Fig. 3, on the upper walls l5 and upper faces 33 on the lower walls l5, thereby forming a space between'the upper walls I5 and the lower walls l5 in which the head 26 of the operating, tube 24 may be received, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,;the edges of the head 26 projecting laterally beyond the; lateral vertical faces 31 of the walls l5.

On pins 36, which'are supported in the openings 3| ofthe head 26, the inner ends of toggle .The collar is concentric with sleeve 24 and is held in abutment with the end 5| of tube l9 'by means of the lock nuts 41 and48. This collar 5E hasa radial flange 52 adapted to be engaged by a cam 53 formed on thelower end of an operating shaft 54 disposed in vertically extending relation. The upper portion 55 of the member 54 is passed through and supported in a vertical opening 55 formed in a boss 51 on the upper part of a casing'58 which is shaped so that it will fit over the end portion of the sleeve l9, as shown in Figs; 1 and 2. A handle 60xis secured to the up per end of the member 54 in such position that it may swing through an arc of substantially from the full line position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position 6011. The handle has a cylindrical hub GI at the inner end thereof which fits on the upper end of the shaft 54. Around a portion of this hub 6| a wall 52 projects upwardly from the-boss '51, the end portions 53 of this wall 62 forming stops to limit the swing of the handle 30. D

It will be noted that two cooperating pairsof toggle links 39 are provided so that both end portions of each shaft I6 will beengagedby the toggle links. During the normal operation of the carbon drive or feeding device disclosed, the head 28 of the operating tube 24 will be disposed substantially in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. During the time the operating tube 24 and its head 26 are in this position, the toggle links 39 will be in the oblique position shown in Fig. 1, permitting the springs 23 to draw the feed rollers or wheels l2 forcibly into engagement with the surface of the carbon I. Should it be desired to remove the carbon III, for the purpose of replacement or renewal, for example, the operator merelyswings the handle 60 from the full line position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position 60a. This rotates the cam 53, Fig. 2, in clockwise direction through an arc of substantially 90, with the result that the cam 53 will force the flange or shoulder 52 leftwardly,

away from the head of the electrode I0, thereby shifting theoperating tube 24 to the left, with the a result that the pins 38 of the head 26 will be carried leftwardly from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

the surface of ;the carbon l0; whereupon, the

carbon I0 may be freely moved in any direction as desired.

Asused in this specification, the terms electrode and carbon are; synonymous and this invention is not limited to use with any particular type of electrode.

I claim:

1. In an electrode holder for are lamps, a plu- I ralityof rotatable gear members for engaging an electrode, said gear members being mounted on a toggle. and means for actuating saidtoggle torelease the'electrode, said means comprising a tube connected :to said toggle and a cam for actuating said tube.

2. In an electrodeholder for are lamps, the

a toggle, a tube connected to said toggle, and a cam for moving said tube to thereby actuate said toggle.

4. In an electrode holder for are lamps with a supporting member having an opening therethrough for passage of an electrode, a plurality of rotatable gear wheels carried by said supporting member, and elastic members for forcing said gear, wheels into engagement with the electrode,

the combination of a toggle, a tube surrounding the electrode and connecting said toggle to a cam, a handle for operating said cam to thereby actuate said toggle in such a manner as to force said gear wheels out of engagement'with the electrode.

5. In an electrode holder for are lamps, a pluralityofg'ear members for engaging an electrode,

a tube surrounding the electrode and a sleeve surrounding said tube, a cam for longitudinally moving said tubeand links connecting said tube to said gear members to disengage said gear members from the electrode by the movement of said tube.

6. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a scroll gear, a plurality of planetary feed wheels meshing with said scroll gear, means supporting said feed wheels for movement around the electrode and for movement toward and away from the electrode, spring means urging said feed wheels towards the electrode, said scroll gear having an aperture, and means movable in said aperture for releasing said feed wheels from the electrode.

7. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a sleeve, means for rotating said sleeve, planetary feed wheels carried by said sleeve, a scroll gear surrounding said sleeve for operating said feed wheels, an electrode tube inside of said sleeve and in sliding engagement therewith, and means operated by said electrode tube for releasing said feed wheels from the electrode.

8. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a sleeve, means for rotating said sleeve, a scroll gear surrounding said sleeve, means for feeding the electrode lengthwise comprising a plurality of planetary gears adapted to engage opposite sides of the electrode and cooperating with said scroll gear, a tubular electrode carrier in said sleeve, link means on said carrier for supporting said planetary gears for movement towards and away from the electrode, tensioning means urging said planetary gears towards the electrode, said link means being adjacent the crater end of said electrode carrier and connected with said sleeve for releasing said planetary gears from the electrode, and means adjacent the opposite end or said electrode car'- rier for moving said electrode: carrier relatively to said sleeve to effect said release.

9. Electrode release mechanism comp-rising the combination of a sleeve, a gear at one end of said sleeve, feed wheels at the other end of said sleeve, a scroll gear around said sleeve for said feed wheels, an electrode carrier in said sleeve, apertures in said electrode carrier for said feed wheels, a spring urging said feed Wheels towards: the electrode, and means operated by relative movement between said sleeve and said electrode carrier for moving said feed wheels away from the electrode.

10. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a sleeve, a gear on one end of said sleeve for rotating said sleeve, a scroll gear mounted on said sleeve adjacent the other end thereof, planetary feed, wheels associated with said sleeve and said scroll gear, an electrode carrier slidably mounted. in said sleeve, means for rotating said electrode carrier by said sleeve comprising members on said sleeve and electrode carrier having sliding co-acting surfaces, and means operated by sliding movement of said electrode carrier for releasing said feed wheels from the. electrode.

11. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a sleeve, a gear on one end of said sleeve for rotating said sleeve, a tubular electrode carrier slidably mounted in said sleeve and projecting beyond said end of said sleeve, stops limiting the sliding movement of said electrode carrier, a radial flange an said projecting end of said electrode carrier, a housing for said gear and said flange, a shaft rotatably carried by said housing, a cam on said shaft co-acting with said flange, a handle for said shaft, and feed wheels at the other end of said sleeve under control of said electrode carrier.

12. Electrode release mechanism comprising the combination of a sleeve having a head at one end. thereof, means for rotating said sleeve, opposed slots in said sleeve, a planetary feed wheel in each of said slots, opposed guideways in said head, a shaft for each of said feed wheels, said shafts. being slidably mounted in said guideways respectively, spring means urging said feed Wheels towards the electrode, an operating 111cmber adjacent the outer end of said sleeve, and means associated with said operating member for moving said shafts in said guideways away from the electrode.

13. Electrode release mechanism according to claim 12 wherein said means for moving said shafts comprises a tube in said sleeve, said tube having opposed slots through which said feed wheels extend in contacting the electrode.

ROBERT J.'BRANDT. 

